The nonprofit sector has weathered many challenges; but nothing matches the scope and speed of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had. Within a short period of time a health crisis in China turned into a global pandemic and economic shutdown. While some parts of the world are seeing a levelling-off of infections and deaths, others are still experiencing an increase in the number of new cases and hospitalizations.

Even as the medical and public health aspects of the pandemic become more manageable, the economic impact will continue for some time. Many small- and medium-size businesses will never return. Tens of millions of people have lost their jobs and are not able to pay their mortgage or rent, let alone their credit card bills and student loans.

Nonprofit organizations have been similarly devastated. For many, revenues have dried up and donations declined. Every nonprofit leader has had to respond to the pandemic and take steps to help their organization survive. Some have had to lay people off and cut salaries, and others have had to cut programs. In the process, however, many leaders have discovered new ways to operate their organization, offer programs, and provide services to constituents. Some have made small adjustments, and others large ones.

Beyond the obvious efforts like encouraging remote work and moving to online offerings, what are some of the innovative solutions that have arisen from this crisis and that have the potential to dramatically change how we as social sector leaders operate? What can we learn from this experience, and how can we come out stronger as a sector?

Join Stanford Social Innovation Review for their 15th annual Nonprofit Management Institute, “COVID-19: Reshaping Social Innovation.”

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